Society has witnessed massive changes in the way media and technology impacts the way we live. Technology is more mobile, more functional, and seemingly indispensable. We’ve integrated media and technology into more of our lives, bringing devices with us everywhere and depending on them for school, work, and social functions. Beyond the usual dynamics of friends and peer groups, the wider world also now plays a consequential role in young people’s digital lives. The current […]
Purpose in life means pursuing far-reaching goals that are both personally meaningful and beneficial to others.1 Youth with a sense of purpose in life perform better in school, enjoy better health, and experience higher self-esteem. In contrast, those who lack a sense of purpose are more likely to endure depression, anxiety, and substance abuse.2 These consequences make purpose especially critical for the well-being and success of at-risk youth. About the Program Life’s Purpose™ is a […]
Today’s youth are growing up in an age of rapidly advancing on-screen technology. The world is literally at their fingertips. It’s evident that in today’s society of mobile technologies, the media environment has become increasingly pervasive and an important teacher for our children. Most of the time children spend using “on-screen” technologies is time spent alone without guidance of an adult to mediate the images, cultural biases and conversations, or to help make sense of what […]
Youth Speak Out International (YSO INT) is a non-profit organization dedicated to giving children and youth a voice through collaborative media production. As a result of our innovative, hands-on curricula, children develop media literacy, learn to manage their screen time, strengthen their communication and digital citizenship skills as they discover their life’s purpose.
Our Mission is to empower youth and families within culturally diverse communities to use their voice for global change by teaching media literacy, strengthening communication skills, fostering face-to-face collaboration, and providing a platform for the creative use and effective management of screen technology. We envision a world in which empowered youth with strong human connections live with purpose to build a vibrant global community.
Founded in 2008 by CEO/Executive Director, William King, YSO INT was created to address the need for media education for youth and families impacted by media messages. YSO INT operates at the community level, working with afterschool programs, schools, families, and youth to foster lasting change. Our trained facilitators have educated more than 15,150 multicultural students in South Florida, Belize, Jamaica, and Costa Rica, giving priority to after-school programs serving low-income families and underserved youth.
By helping youth think critically about media content, YSO INT promotes tolerance, safety, and respect for others. This forms the groundwork for youth to create new media content aimed at producing positive change in their local and global communities. Youth learn script writing, storyboarding, and filming techniques to create videos that educate the public.
Our programs promote self-exploration, public speaking, and other life skills essential for job readiness. YSO INT’s most recent initiative, Today’s Digital Citizens™, helps children develop skills to manage their use of screen devices, as they learn to implement media literacy, privacy and reputation, online security safety, cyber bullying and mental well-being. By teaching youth creative uses of screen technologies and, at the same time, encouraging parents to become media mentors, Today’s Digital Citizens™ improves how screen technologies impact children and families.
YSO INT’s unique approach combining media literacy with media production empowers youth to share their voices and form stronger, face-to-face connections with others. In addition to inspiring positive change in their communities, these opportunities to discover and share their voice have changed the lives of today’s youth.